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GASPER INCREASES HIS LEADS IN THE CALIFORNIA
LIGHTNING SERIES AND CIVIL WAR SERIES
(Torrance, CA, September 28, 2022)
In 2021, rookie driver David Gasper made a
late-season rush to win the California Lightning
Sprint Car Series and Civil War Series titles. In
2022, the Santa Barbara, California racer is
starting to pull away from the competition in both
series as the season hits the home stretch. Last
Saturday at the Bakersfield Speedway, the teenage
star scored his series-leading seventh win of the
year.
Seven-time 2022 winner David Gasper (center) poses
withrunner-upp Bobby Michnowicz (right) and
third-place Jeff Dyer at Bakersfield. CLS photo.
A fine field of 24 cars showed up for the
fourth of five races in the Civil War Series and
the first on CLS’s home turf. The fans got an
early glimpse of what was going to happen in the
main event when the fastest three cars in
qualifying – Gasper, Bobby Michnowicz, and Jeff
Dyer – later finished in the top three spots in
the 25-lap main event. Gasper was the quickest at
13.825. Michnowicz, who lives in Oak Hills, was
second fastest at 13.937 and Yucca Valley’s Dyer
clocked in third at 13.987.
Palmdale’s
Eric Greco, who is second to Gasper in both CLS
and Civil War points, captured Extreme Muffler
Heat #1 ahead of Glendora rookie Will Browne and
Gasper. That was the only time Gasper did not lead
all night. BCRA regular Dakota Albright of
Waterford, who is getting married this week, won
the Yoshimura R & D second heat race by beating
Michnowicz and Lakewood’s Aiden Lange to the
stripe. The third eight lapper, which was
sponsored by Jake Swanson Shock Technology, went
to BCRA’s Greg Dennett. Camarillo’s Gage Cheek was
second behind the Livermore driver with three-time
CLS champion Jarrett Kramer of Spring Valley
third.
Gasper, in his familiar blue #18
that is sponsored by Kittle Motorsports/Certified
Construction/Rattlesnake Ridge/Valley Precision
Products/Martin Roofing/B2 Design/Hyper Race
Cars/Saldana Race Products #18, sat on the pole
for the main event. Indio’s James Turnbull, who
was making his second start in the potent Mike
Schweitzer #41, was alongside. The second row was
made up of teammates Kramer and Michnowicz with
Dyer and Browne in row three.
Gasper got
the jump on the field as they came down to take
the green flag to start the race. Turnbull got
sideways on the front chute and before he could
recover had slipped back to sixth. Kramer staffed
the second-place spot with Albright third at the
end of the first circuit. Things went fast for two
laps before a yellow came out on lap three when
Chino’s Pat Kelly slid to a stop on the front
straight.
For the restart, it was Gasper,
Kramer, Albright, Michnowicz, and Dyer. Gasper got
a great restart and put some distance between
himself and second-place Kramer. While the field
was mostly comprised of bottom feeders, veteran
Michnowicz was running the top. That paid big
dividends on lap five when he blew by Albright and
Kramer in one corner to go from fourth to second.
Two laps later the festivities came to a
screeching halt again when Citrus Heights driver
Scott Kinney slowed on the front straightaway
bringing out another yellow flag.
The race
restarted with 20-laps to go and Michnowicz was
planted firmly on Gasper’s rear end. Albright was
in third, with Kramer in fourth and Dyer in fifth.
Gasper and Michnowicz pulled away from the field
on the restart and Dyer quickly went from fifth to
third. However, he was nearly a half straight
behind the lead duo. Michnowicz dove to the inside
in turn three on lap seven and nearly pulled off
the slider but Gasper was more than equal to that
challenge and pulled away.
While watching
Michnowicz try to catch and pass Gasper was
exciting, the best battle on the track featured
Dyer, Albright, and Kramer. They were having a
literal war for third. However, like earlier,
another yellow flag slowed the proceedings on lap
12. By that time, Gasper had a half-straight
advantage over Michnowicz and was just about to
encounter lapped traffic.
This time when
the race restarted, Michnowicz threw it hard in
turn one and got a great run down the back chute.
He dove to the inside in turn three and threw a
big slider on Gasper for the lead. However, he
carried so much momentum into the corner, he slid
to the top coming off four, and got into the
fluff. That allowed Gasper to dive underneath and
reclaim his lofty position at the head of the
pack. The loss of momentum saw Gasper pull away.
It also allowed Dyer to dive to the inside of
Michnowicz and pull even with him going into turn
one on the next go around. Michnowicz, still on
the wide line, fought off the advances and
maintained second.
Gasper had built up a
good size lead, but Michnowicz would not give in.
He continued to terrorize his right rear tire in
an effort to catch back up to the leader. If he
was going to have a chance, he was probably going
to need a favor from lapped traffic. That scenario
began to play out at the start of lap 18 when
Gasper caught the first lapper. The lappers all
cooperated with the leader and kept it low
allowing Gasper to maintain a half-straight lead.
While it seemed cut and dried that Gasper
was going to snag the win, suddenly Dyer came
calling on Michnowicz. He pulled to the inside in
turn one on the 24th lap and momentarily poked his
nose ahead of the five-time champion. However,
Michnowicz got a nice drive off two and fended off
his pursuer. It was too late for Michnowicz to
take another shot at the leader who carried a
half-straight lead all the way to the checkers.
Michnowicz placed second with Dyer, Kramer, and
Albright rounding out the top five.
The
Speed Mart/Advanced Racing Suspension/Hepfner
Racing Hard Charger award went to Elk Grove’s Matt
Land who started 21st and finished eighth.
With the season quickly dwindling down, Gasper
will take a comfortable 80-point lead over Greco
in the championship standings when the CLS goes to
the Mohave Valley Raceway for a show that is being
co-sanctioned by the POWRi Southwest Lightning
Sprint Car Series on October 8th. Camarillo’s Cody
Nigh is third but is only two points ahead of
Dyer. Michnowicz rounds out the top five. Browne
reclaimed the lead in the Rookie of the Year
battle and will lead Fillmore’s Connor Speir by
24-points going into the race in the “Copper
State.”
Gasper’s chances of winning the
“Civil War Series” for the second consecutive year
look strong, He will have a 63-point lead heading
into the finale at Bakersfield on November 15th.
Michnowicz, Browne, and Nigh make up third through
fifth in the CWS.
West Evens Motorsports
Qualifying: 1. David Gasper, 13.825; 2. Bobby
Michnowicz, 13.937; 3. Jeff Dyer, 13.987; 4. Will
Browne, 14.025; 5. James Turnbull, 14.103; 6.
Jarrett Kramer, 14.109; 7. Brandon Leedy, 14.177;
8. Dakota Albright, 14.244; 9. Cody Nigh, 14.257;
10. Eric Greco, 14.264; 11. Harlee Aguilera,
14.276; 12. Connor Speir, 14,296; 13. Leland Day,
14.296; 14. Aiden Lange, 14.331; 15. Greg Dennett,
14.478; 16. Dominic Del Monte, 14,658, 17. Jon
Robertson, 14.806; 18. Gage Cheek, 14.911; 19.
Mark Henry, 14.969; 20. Seth Dyer, 15.197; 21. Pat
Kelley, 15.214; 22. Jacob Magallanes, 15.285; 23.
Scott Kinney, No Time; 24. Matt Land No Time
Extreme Muffler Heat #1 (8 Laps): 1. Greco; 2.
Browne; 3. Gasper; 4. Leedy; 5. Day; 6. Henry; 7.
Magallanes; 8. Del Monte
Yoshimura R & D
Heat #2 (8 Laps): 1. Albright; 2. Michnowicz; 3.
Lange; 4. Turnbull; 5. Robertson; 6. Aguilera; 7.
Seth Dyer; 8. Kinney
Jake Swanson Shock
Technology Heat #3 (8 Laps): 1. Dennett; 2. Cheek;
3. Kramer; 4. Jeff Dyer; 5. Speir; 6. Land; 7.
Nigh; 8. Kelley
Main Event (25 Laps With
Starting Positions and Difference) 1. David
Gasper, Santa Barbara, CA, (1st) 2. Bobby
Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, -1.861 (4th) 3. Jeff
Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, -2,998 (5th) 4. Jarrett
Kramer, Spring Valley, CA, -3.763 (3rd) 5.
Dakota Albright, Waterford, CA, -4.270 (7th) 6.
Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, -4.560 (8th) 7. Greg
Dennett, Livermore, CA, -7.406 (9th) 8. Matt
Land, Elk Grove, CA, -8.198 (21) 9. Cody Nigh,
Camarillo, CA, -9.313 (13th) 10. Aiden Lange,
Lakewood, CA, -10.515 (11th) 11. Will Browne,
Glendora, CA, -11.328 (6th) 12. Gage Cheek,
Camarillo, CA, 11.745(12th) 13. Harlee
Aguilera, Orangevale, CA, -14.305 (14th) 14.
Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, -14.555 (15th) 15.
Brandon Leedy, Placerville, CA, -14.594 (10th)
16. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, -1 Lap (18th)
17. Jacob Magallanes, Pasadena, CA –1 Lap (24th)
18. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, -1 Lap (23rd)
19. Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA, -14 Laps (16th)
20. Scott Kinney, Citrus Heights, CA, -20 Laps
(22nd) 21. James Turnbull, Indio, CA, -23 Laps
(2nd) 22. Mark Henry, Rosamond, CA, -23 Laps
(19th) 23. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, - 24 Laps
(20th)
24. Dominic Del Monte, Gardena, CA,
- 24 Laps (17th)
Bakersfield CLS
Contingency Awards
Heat Race #1 – Extreme
Muffler $50.00 Product Certificate – Eric Greco
Heat Race #2 – Yoshimura R & D - $50.00
CSI Product Certificate – Dakota Albright
Heat Race #3 – Jake Swanson Shock Technology
$50.00 Product Certificate – Greg Dennett
1st Place Main Event - Eibach Springs $100.00
Product Certificate – David Gasper
2nd
Place Main Event - Vahlco Wheels $50.00 Product
Certificate – Bobby Michnowicz
3rd Place
Main Event - Jake Swanson Shock Technology $50
Product Certificate – Jeff Dyer
4th Place
Main Event – Hyper Chassis - $50 Product
Certificate – Jarrett Kramer
5th Place Main
Event – Smith Titanium Product Certificate –
Dakota Albright
10th Place Main Event –
King Racing Products $25.00 Product Certificate –
Aiden Lange
Fast Qualifier - West Evans
Motorsports $25.00 Product Certificate – David
Gasper
Hard Charger - Speed Mart $25.00
Product Certificate – Matt Land
Hard
Charger - Advanced Racing Suspension $50.00
Product Certificate – Matt Land
Hard
Charger – Hepfner Racing Products $25.00 Product
Certificate – Matt Land
Hard Luck Award –
Speed Mart $25.00 Product Certificate – Dominic
Del Monte
1st Car Not On The Lead Lap –
Rebel Gears 30% Off Coupon - Jon Robertson
California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point
Standings 1. David Gasper – 1796 2. Eric
Greco – 1716 3. Cody Nigh – 1601 4. Jeff
Dyer – 1599 5. Bobby Michnowicz – 1487 6.
Will Browne – 1280 7. Connor Speir – 1256 8.
Jon Robertson – 1026 9. Pat Kelley – 973 10.
Dominic Del Monte – 696
Civil War Series
Point Standings 1. David Gasper – CLS – 514
2. Eric Greco – CLS – 451 3. Bobby Michnowicz –
CLS – 433 4. Will Browne – CLS - 420 5. Cody
Nigh – CLS – 385 6. Greg Dennett - BCRA - 383
7. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 358 8. Harlee
Aguilera – BCRA – 331 9. Matt Land – BCRA – 329
10. Brandon Leedy – BCRA - 302
The
following companies have become marketing partners
with the CLS in 2022. They have offered up more
than $13,000.00 in contingencies that will be
awarded on top of the regular racing purses and
they will be paid out throughout the year.
Yoshimura R&D, Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By
Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, Saldana Racing
Products, Rod End Supply, Speed Mart, Cold Fire
West, West Evens Motorsports, RC Fuel Injection,
Jake Swanson Shock Technology, Advanced Racing
Suspensions, CSI Shocks, Eibach Springs, Triple X
Race Components, King Racing Products, Hyper
Racing Products, Rebel Gears, Vahlco Wheels,
Wilwood Disk Brakes, Fuel Safe Systems, MPI,
Circle Track Performance, E-Z UP, Hepfner Racing,
Smith Titanium, and Hoosier Speed.
If you
or your company would like to become a partner of
the longtime racing organization, contact Jon
Robertson via email at
mailto:jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling
(310) 367-9050.
2022 California Lightning
Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 25
Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Grant Sexton
April 2 Merced Speedway Non-Wing –– Civil War
#1 – David Gasper
April 16 Bakersfield
Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender
April 30
Ventura Raceway Winged (Make Up Main) David Gasper
April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby
Michnowicz
May 14 Bakersfield Speedway
Winged – A.J. Bender
May 21 Ventura Raceway
Winged – Eric Greco
June 11 Bakersfield
Speedway Winged – David Gasper
June 25
Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper
July
9 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper
July 23 Ventura Raceway Winged – Dave Gasper
August 6 *Santa Maria Raceway Winged – Brent
Sexton
August 26 Silver Dollar Speedway
Winged – Civil War #2 – Connor Spier
August
27 Placerville Speedway Winged – Civil War #3 –
Bobby Michnowicz
Sept. 10 Lemoore Raceway
Winged – Bobby Michnowicz
Sept. 24
Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Civil War #4 – David
Gasper
October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway
Winged – With SWLS
October 29 Ventura
Raceway Winged
Nov. 15 Bakersfield Speedway
Winged – With USAC Midgets - Civil War #5
Nov. 17 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC
Midgets - No Points
Nov. 18 Placerville
Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points
Nov. 19 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With
USAC Midgets - No Points
*Non Points Race
To keep up with the CLS online, please visit
the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook
at
https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints
PAST CALIFORNIA
LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS
1994 Tony Everhart,
1995 Gary Sexton, 1996 Rob Sczymczak, 1997 Jon
Rahe, 1998 Chris Rahe, 1999 Brent Sexton, 2000
Greg Bragg, 2001 Greg Bragg, 2002 Greg Bragg, 2003
David Cardey, 2004 Keith Janca, 2005 Johnny Bates,
2006 Donny Gansen, 2007 Shane Rossen, 2008 Brent
Sexton, 2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr., 2010 Jarrett
Kramer, 2011 Tim Brown, 2012 Bobby Michnowicz,
2013 Stephen Limon, 2014 Bobby Michnowicz, 2015
Bobby Michnowicz, 2016 Bobby Michnowicz, 2017
Bobby Michnowicz, 2018 Jarrett Kramer, 2019
Jarrett Kramer, 2021 David Gasper
This press release was
produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768
mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com |
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